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3:01 pm

Wed July 3, 2013

Senate Meets With No Vote On Medicaid Expansion

The event generated some clamor, speech-making, and drew the dean of Congress.

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But there was no vote on expanding Medicaid as the state Senate interrupted its summer recess to return to Lansing.

The Michigan Public Radio Network’s Rick Pluta reports.

There was a small rally outside, and Democrats unsuccessfully tried to force a vote on the question. But the Senate adjourned for two weeks without voting to expand Medicaid to eventually cover almost half a million un-insured Michiganders.

State Senate Republican Leader Randy Richardville.

“I think it’s my job to make sure that if and when a vote is held it’s something that is the best product that we can put forward,” he said.

Congressman John Dingell was one of those who showed up to press for Senate action on the expansion, which is the central tenet of the national health care law he championed.